Fluid-elevating apparatus



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March 4, .1930. L. H. -MILES FLUID ELEYATING ABArgATUs 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Fil-ed. June 2v2, 1927 i A| l ummm @nl IIH\\\\\\\\\. j IIIA r/.r/l Q l 1 2 ...L .m llwwl n wlw/ #,wy

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March 4, 1930. L. H. MILS FLUID ELEVATING APPARATUS Filed June 22, 1927 5 sheets-sheet l II A TTORNE Y.

Patented Mar. 4, .1930,y

PATENT oi-FICE LESTER H. MILES, OF LOS ANGELES, C-ALIFORNIA FLUID-ELEVATING APPARATUS Application md Tune 22,

My invention relates to an apparatus -for elevating fluid. o

The general object of my invention is to provide means by which oil in a well may be ,brought to the surface when the gas pressure n the well is insufficient to cause the well to Another object of this invention is to provide means which will increase the -'low of oil wells in which the gas pressure is soweak o that the oil barely flows, and wherein means is employed for lifting the oil in a well to the surface without the application of the customary pump.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatus including a plurality of stages or lifts for causing removal of :oil from -the wells. Another object of this invention is to proi -vide novel means for allowing escape of gas to the sta es or lifts to cause the oil to iow.

Other o jects of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: l Fig. 1 is a vertical section through .an oil Welly showing one embodiment of my invention placed therein.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through a pluralityof stages.

. Fig. 3' is an enlarged vertical v'section through one of the stages showing the valve in a position to allow the gas to escape from the' stage. l

Fig. 4is a 'view similar to Fig'. 3. showing the valve operatedto allow the gas to enter the stage.

Fig. 5 is 'a section taken online 5 5 of Fi .3. f

Fig. 6 isa section on a reduced scale taken on line 6-6 of Fig.'4. Fig. 7 is a `fragmentary section taken onA lline 7-7 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 8 is a verticalsection througha modified form of stage.

. Fig. 9`is avertical section on a-reduced scalethrough a plurality of modified forms of stages and Fig. 10 isa section'taken on line 10--10 of 5 Fig. 8.

ings

1927. Serial N0. 200,621.

Referring to the drawings by reference characters I have shown my invention as embodied in adevice comprising va plurality of stages l0 supported by a collar 11 in a casing 1head 12. The stages 10 are surrounded by a casing 14 shown as sup orted at its upper end by the casing headp 12. Gas pipes '15 communicate with the space between the stages 10 and the casing 14. T liie iow of from the casing may be controlled valves 16. y f

Eachstage 10 preferably comprises a length of tubing 17 connected to the adjoin- -ing length of tubing 17 by a coupling 18.

The stageslO are separated by a transverse partition 19'interposed between the .ends of each section of tubing 17. Packing elements es' y 20 are preferably provided between the par-` tition's K19 and the ends of the sections o tubings 17 to form a gas tight joint between each stage 10.

Extending from the lowermost partition 19 upward through each partition and out through the casin head 12 I provide a 'gas esca e .pipe 21. ecured to the partitions 19 o each stagelO I provide a conductor tube -22 which may extend an'equal distance on each;y side of the partitions 19 and forms a passageway from a point adjacent the bottom of one stage to -a point adjacent the top of the preceding stage.

Each stage coupling 18 is provided with an inner annular groove 23 having communication with the space between the stages 10 and the casing 14 byV means of an aperture 24.l Each partition 19 is provided with an aperture 25 in alignment with the groove 23 in the adjacent stage coupling 18. This aperture 25extends from the outer periphery of the -partition 19 to a vertical b'ore 26in' the partition (see Fig. 6) The lower end of the bore 26 opens into the stage below the partition, while the upper end of the bore is closed as'clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the draw- Another aperture 27 extends from the bore 26 to' anannular groove 28 which surrounds Y. provided. This valve has a central vertif inside of the Vgas escape'pipe 21 -as' yclearly shown in detail in Fig. 7.

4Within the bore 26 a sliding valve 30 is cal aperture extending therethrough.` An aperture 31 which extends through the side wall of the valve 30 is, in one position of the valve, adapted to register with the aperture f in the partition 19 so that a complete passageway is formed from the space betweeny the stages 10 and the casing 14 to the interior of the stage, through which the gas in the'v casing may pass therefrom into the stage 10.

Another aperture 32 through the side wall of thevalve is, in one position, adapted to register with the aperture 27 in the partition l19 so that a complete passageway is formed from the interior of the stage to the interior ,of the pipe 21 through which the lgas may pass fromthe interior of the stage vinto the pipe 21.

Foractuating the valve 30 I provide a lever 33 pivoted to a bracket shown as integralv with thepartition 19. One end of the lever 33 is pivotally connected 'to a link 35 which is in turn pivotally secured to the valve 30.4 The other end of the lever 33 is slfackly connected ture 27 in the partition 19. When the valveI at 36 to a float 37 which is adapted for reciprocating movement on-a sleeve 38. The sleeve 3 8 yis mounted for reciprocating movement on a rod 39 which is secured to the-partition 19 at the top of the stage. Adjacent the lower end of the sleeve 38 I provide another float 40 adapted to have reciprocating movement on the sleeve. This fioat when in an extreme down position abuts a collar 41 secured to the sleeve 38.

When a stage is empty as shown in Fig. 3, the lower iloat 40 abuts the collar 41 and pulls thesleeve 38 down, which in turnv forces` the upper'iioat 37' down through engagement with a collar 42 secured to theupper end of the sleeve 38. When the upper float 37 isin a down position it rocks the lever 33 which in turn through the medium of the link 35 causes the valve 30 toy move upward so that the aperture 32 of the valve registerswith theV aper- 30 is in this position the gas in the stage may pass out through the valve 30 intothe pipe 21 and'up through the pipe out of the well where it may besuitably disposed of. The oil may now enter the stage. By allowing the gas to- 'escape from the stage less 'resistance is of-l ,fered to the incoming fluid which iiowsinto the stage until the float 37 has been actuatedto 'a raised position as shown in Fig. 4.

Whenl the ioat 37 is raised by the rising oil it rocks the lever 33 and causes it through the medium of the link 35 to move the valve 30 to a-down position so that the aperture 31' iof the valve will registerwith the aperture 25 in the partition 19. When the valve 30 is in this position a, complete passageway is formed from thespace between the stages '10 .Extending 'from the vlowermost 53 upward and out through the casing head.

and the easingi14 whereupon the gas in the casing may pass'into the oil filled stage aslevel in the stage to a predetermined point the '75' float 40 actuates'the valve 30 to the'gas escape position as previously described. After this is done the emptied stage will again be filled by the Afluid forced up through a conductor tube 22 from the stage below. i

If the natural gas pressure in a `well is 4not of suicient pressure to operate my device additional gas may be pumped into the casing 14 through one of the' pipes 15 untilthe desired pressure is secured. f-

. The upward movement of-the float .40 is shownas limitedby a collar 43 secured to the se A sleeve 38, Whenthe-stage is filling and the float40 is aused to rise'it-abuts the collar 43 and raises the sleeve, thus relieving'the float 37 of. the weight'of the sleeve when itv actuates the valve 30.

The lower lioat 4 0 is shown as providedl with a' buoyancy chamber44 and a fluid retainingchamber 45." When the rising fluid in the stage passes the upper edge ofthe chamber 45 (as shown in Fi 4)' it"beoomes more buoyant and is-'there o re capablefofmore quickly raising the sleeve 38.- Whenthe liuid in the stage falls below the upper edge of the chamber 45 as shown in Fig. 3, the

weight of the iofat :40 is vincreased by *the' weight of the fluid vin the chamber 45' and' then quickly actuates the thus the float 40 valve 30.

For retainin 46 anchored to the lever' supporting bracket I the lever 33 in its two-eX-I- treme positionsv may provide a coiled spring and secured to a downwardly projecting farm 47 on the lever 33.l In Figs. 8, 9 and 1 0- I `have a-modified form of stagewhich is arranged indicated at 49..

in series in a well casing 50similartothe stages 10 in Fig. 2.

Each stage 49 comprises a length of '5 1 connected tofadjoinig lengths of tubingr 51 by couplings 52. l The stages 49are sepas 4rated by a transverse'partition53 interposed'- between the ends of each sectionoftubing 51V.'

vPacking elements 54-are preferably provided between the partitions 53 andthe ends of the sections of tubing 451to forma gas tight joint between-each stage..v Within thetu'bing 51V i 56 and a bottom member 57( partition Iprovide a' gas escape pipe 5 8 similar to the gas escape plpe 21 1n Figs. V1 to 4 inclusive.

. of each stage and integral with theitransverse I Ypartition 53 I provide a downwardly pro j ecting chamber 55 which includes vside .walls 125 Secured to the partitions 53 of each stage I provide a conductor tube 59 which extends from a point adjacent the interior side of the bottom member 57 of the chamber 55 to a point ad'acent the lower side of the member 57 of t e preceding eta-ge` Another conductor tube 60 is secured to the member 57 of each chamber 55 and extends from a point adjacent the top side of one partition 53 to' ,.20 alperture 63wh1ch forms a passageway from e groove 62 to a vertical bore 64 in the parti- 'tion (see Fig. 8).

The upper end of the bore 64 is closed and the lower end of the bore opens into the charnber 55, the bottom member 57 of which is provided with a boss 65 having therethrough another bore 66 preferably of the same diameter and on the same axis as the bore 64. This bore 64 'opens into the chamber 55 and into the corresponding stage 49.

Another aperture 67 forms a passageway from the bore 64 to an annular groove 68 which surrounds the gas esca e pipe 58. The

' gas escape pipe 58 is provide -with apertures 69 which register with the groove 68 and form passageways therefrom into the interior of the gas escape pipe.

Within the bores 64 and 66 I provide a sliding valve 70 having a central vertical aperture 40 therethrough. An aperture 7-1 through the side wall of the valve 70 is, in one position of the valve, adapted to register with the aperture 63 in the partition 53 s o that a complete passageway is formed from the space between 45 the stages 49 and the casing 50 to the interior of the stage, -through which the gas in the casing -may pass therefrom into the interior of the stage. l

Another aperture 7 2 through the side wall of the valve 7U` is', in one position of the valve, adapted to registervwith the aperture 67 in the partition 53 so .that-a complete passageway is formed from the interior of the stage to the interior of the gas escape pipe 58, through 55 which the gas may pass from the interior of the stage into. the pipe 58, l

For actuating the valve 70 I provide a lever 73 pivoted to a bracket integral with the partition 53. One end of thelever 73 ispivotally connectedto the valve 70 by mea-ns ofgaslot and pin as at 74. The other end of the lever 73 is slackly connected as at 75 to a flbat 7 6 Y which is mounted for/reciprocating movement on the upper portionv of the cndyctor 55 `tube 60.

When a stage is empty as shown in Fig. 8 and at A in Fig. 9, the float 76 will be in a down position and will, through the medium of the lever 73, cause the valve to move upward so that the .aperture 72 in the valve and the aperture 67 in the partition register as shown in Fig. 8. When the valve 70 is in this position the gas in the'stage may pass out through thevalve 70 into the pipe 58 and up through the pipe out of the well, thus less resistance is offered to the incoming fluid. The incoming fluid flows into the stage and up through the conductor 60 into the chamber 55 and actuates the float 76 to a raised position as shown at B in Fig. 9.

As the float 76 rises the lever 73 moves the valve 70 to a down position until the aperture 71 in the valve and the aperture 63 in the partition are in register, thereby forming a complete passageway from the space between the stages and the casing 50 through which the gas in the casing may pass into the stage. The

incoming gas forces the fluid in the stage up through the conductor tube 60 into the chamber 55 and thence up through the tube 59 into the next highest stage.

As previously mentioned in connection with the stages 10, the gas in the casing is always .maintained at a pressure sufficient to force the fluid from a filled stage up through the conductor tube 59 to the next highest stage. i

When the incoming gas has lowered the fiuid level in the stage to a predetermined point the float 76 will actuate the valve 70 to the previously described gas escape position and then the emptied stage will again be filled by the fluid forced up through the conductor tube 59 from the stave below.

The float 76 is -shown as consisting'of anair chamber and a fluid retaining chamber for the same purposes as previously described in connection with the float 40 in Fig. 3 and the lever 73 is retained in its two extreme positions by a coiled spring 78 anchored to the lever supporting bracket' and secured to a downwardly projecting arm 79 onthe lever 73 similar to the coiled spring 46 in the firstv vdescribed form.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided a novel, simple and efficient means for lifting fluid in a well.

Having ,thus described my invention, what 'I claim 1s:. l. An oil, well' lift including a plurality of stages connected together, each of said stages comprising a hollow member, a transverse partition and a conductor member communicating with the space above and below said partition, a valve communicating with the interior of said stage, float means in said stage, said float means being adapted to actu-y the fluid in the stage falls below a .prede-- terminedpoint.

2. An oil well lift including a plurality of stages/connected together, each of said stages comprising a hollow member, a transverse partition and a conductor member communieating with the space above and below said partition, a valve communicating with the interior ofsaid stage, a float associated with said stage, said float being adapted to actuate said valve to allow gas to enter said stage when the fluid in the stage'rises to a predetermined point, another float associated with said stage, said second float being adapted to actuate said valve to allow gas to escape from said stage when the fluid in the stagefalls below a predeterminedpoint and means to convey said escaped gas out of the well, said second mentioned float including-a fluid re-v taining chamber whereby weight is addedV to said float when the fluid in said stage falls l below the upper portion of said float.

8. In -a device of the'classdescribed a stage comprising a hollow member, a fluid inlet to said stage and a fluid'outlet from said stage, a transverse partition and 'a conductor member extending above and below said partition, a gas conductor member extending from the transverse partition, said' stage also including a valve" bore in said partition, a gas inletpassageway in said parti-l tion communicating with the space outside said member, a gas o ntlet passageway7 in said ed to move said valve to cause vsaid inlet port v ot said valve to register with said gas inlet passageway in said partition when the fluid in said stage rises .to a predetermined point, another float in said stage, said Vsecond mentioned float being adapted to move said valve to cause said outlet port of said valve to register with said outlet passageway in said partition when the fluid in said stage falls below a predetermined point.

4.- In a well,-'the combination of a casing,

. a casing head, a fluid lift'mounted in said casing and associatedwith said casing head,

said fluid lift including a plurality of stages connected together, a fluid inlet to each of -said stages and a fluid outlet from each of said j stages, a single one of said stages comprising a'. hollow member, a transverse partition and a conductor member extending above and below said partition, a gas conductor member extending from the transverse partition in the lowermost stage through all of the stages of said lift, a single one ofsaid stages also y including a valve bore in said partition, a gas inlet passageway in said partition connecting the space between said fluid lift and said case ing to said valve bore, a gas outlet passageway insa-id partition connecting said valve bore to the interior of the gas Aconductor member', a valve in said valve bore, an aperture in said valve communicating with said valve aperture and adapted at one position of said valve to register with said gas inlet passageway, another port in said valve communicating with said Valve aperture and adapted at one position of said vfalve to register with said gas outlet passageway, a float'in said stage,

-`said float being adapted to move said valve 'niv to cause said inlet port of said valve to lregister. with said gas inlet passageway in said partition when the fluid in said stage rises to a-predetermined point,lanother float in said stage, said second mentioned float being adapt-ed' to lmove said valve to cause said outlet port of said valve to register with said outlet passageway in said partition when the fluid in said stage falls below a predetermined points. v

5. In a well, the combination of a casing, a casing head, a fluid lift mounted in said `casing and associated with said casing`head.` s aid fluid lift including a plurality 'of stagesconnected together, a fluid inlet to each of said stages anda fluid outlet from each of said' stages, a single one-ot` said stages comprising al hollow memberatransverse partition and a conductor member extending above and be-g,

low said partition, a single one of said stages also including a valve bore in said partition, 5

a gas inlet passageway in said partition, a gas i outlet passageway in said partition, a valve in said valve bore, an aperture in said valve communicating with the interor of said stage, a port in said valve connecting Nsaid valve aperture and adapted at one position of said valve to registei` with said gas linlet passage way, another port in said valve connecting said valve-aperture and adapted at one position of said valve to register with said gas outlet passageway, a rod secured to said partition and extending into' said stage, a sleeve surrounding said rod and movable thereon, a;

float movable on said sleeve, a lever slackly connected adjacent one end to said float and pivotally secured to a portionof said partition, the other end of said lever having a link pivotally connected thereto, said link being 'pivotally connected to said valve, said'float l l being adapted through the mediumv of-said i lever and said link to move said valve to cause said inlet portof said valve to re ister with saidv gas inlet passageway in saidV partition when the 'fluid in said stage rises to a predeterff mined point, another float'movable onsaid sleeve said second mentioned float being signature.

f LESTER H. MILES.. 

